Valve



L. L. CARTER VALVE Filed Nov. 24 1920 r L 8 Z a L F /E, w L

Patented Get. 9, 1923.

LESTER L. CARTER, 0F PALO A1120, CALIFORNIA.

VALVE.

Application filed November 24, 1920. Serial No. 428,194.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Learn L. CARTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Palo Alto, county of Santa Clara and State of California, have invented a new and useful Valve, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the process of collecting gas wherein a vacuum is maintained upon a portion of the system.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a valve by which a constant, absolute pressure may be maintained on the casing and casing head through which the gas is delivered from the well. This pressure may be above or below atmospheric pressure.

Further objects and advantages will be made evident hereinafter.

Referring to the drawings which are for illustrative purposes only,

Fig. 1 is a dia mmatic view showing the invention applled to an oil or gas well.

Fig. 2 is a section through the valve.

Fig. 3 is a plan view on a plane represented by the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

In the embodiment of my invention shown, 11 is an oil or gas well derrick having a casing 12 and a casing head 13 through which gas is delivered through a pipe 14. This gas is delivered into a pipe line 15 which is maintained under a part1al vacuum by means of an exhauster or pump 16. It is undesirable except under certain conditions to put the casing 12 under a vacuum as the casing and casing head are not always air tight and it is difiicult to keep them so, and any air in the line 15 is dangerousdue to its forming explosive mixtures with the vapors contained therein. It is, therefore, advisable to maintain the casing 12 and the casing head 13 under a pressure sli htly above atmospheric pressure and this accomplish by the use of a valve 20, a section thereof being shown in Fig. 2. This valve consists of a body 21 havin an opening 22 into which a portion 23 o the pipe 14 is connected. The opening 22 communicates with an outlet chamber 24 inside the valve. The valve also has an inlet opening 25 communicating with a portion 26 of the pipe 14, gas being admitted to this chamber directly from the pipe 26 and through that pipe from the casing head 13. Sliding vertically inside the body 21 is a valve stem 30 carrying rubber discs 31 which seat upon circular seats 32 formed on a partition 33 separating the chambers 24 and 25. The valve stem 30 is connected to a diaphragm stem. which in turn is secured in the center of a flexible diaphragm 41 in a diaphragm chamber 42. This diaphragm chamber is formed between metal members 43 and 44 clamped together by bolts 45, the diaphragm 41 being secured between the two members 43 and 44. The diaphragm divides the diaphragm chamber into a pressure chamber and an atmospheric chamber 51. The pressure chamber 50 communicates freely through ports 52 with the inlet chamber 25.

In the embodiment of my invention shown, the valve is supposed to stand vertically as shown in the drawing and Weights 56 are placed upon the top of the diaphragm tendin to push it down and to decrease the cubica contents of the pressure chamber 50. A cover 57 is provided by means of which the weights 56 may be removed, this cover having a port 58 through gvhich the air can freely enter the chamber.

The method of operation of my invention is as follows:

The casing 12 being under some pressure due to the pump or a natural flow of gas, tlus gas under pressure enters the inlet chamber 25 and passes upwardly through ,the ports 52 acting upon the diaphragm 41 and tending to lift same, the lifting of the d1aphragm raising the discs 31 from the seats 32 and allowing the gas to flow from. the chamber 25 into the chamber 24. The lifting of the diaphragm 41 is resisted by {the weights 56, the number of these weights being adjusted to suit conditions. To lift these weights, the pressure in the chamber 50 must be above atmospheric pressure by an amount sufficient to lift the weights 50 and 56. Whenever this occurs, the discs 31 are lifted and gas flows through the valve from the portion 26 to the portion 23 of the pipe 14. As soon as this flow starts, there is a tendency for the pressure to fall. In practice the valve assumes an intermediate position in which sufiicient gas is allowed to flow to maintain a certain pressure on the casing 12.

I am aware that diaphragm operated valves are old but in all the valves with which I am familiar a stufling box is used between the valve proper and the diaphragm chamber i. e. around the stem 40. By omitting this stufling box I eliminate friction and the constant trouble incident to the use of parking.

1n the practical use of my invention, it is often applied to wells producing gas which contains large quantities of gasoline. This gasoline tends to condense and collect within the system, and being incompressible, it tends in some cases to interfere with the operation of valves and the like. By placfing my valv vertically, any gasoline that collects or condenses in the chamber 42 runs through the ports 52 back into the chamber thus preventing it from coming in contact with the rubber composition diaphragm which contact would quickly destroy the diaphragm due to the well known destructive action of gasoline upon rubber thus interfering with the operation of the valve.

In very old wells, it is sometimes desired to put the casing under vacuum which can be readily accomplished by changing the weights 56. In any case the valve acts to maintain an absolute pressure either above or below atmospheric in the casing.

I claim as my invention:

A gas valve comprising: walls forming a central chamber; walls forming a valve chamber within said first named chamber ings; rubber discs carried on said valve stem so that they can each be seated on the upper edge of one of said valve openings to close said opening, walls forming an intermediate chamber directly above and in open communication with said central chamber; walls forming a diaphragm chamber directly above said intermediate chamber; said diaphragm chamber having an upper and a lower portion, the upper portion being in open communication with the atmosphere; a. diaphragm therein and adjustable weights carried on the top of said diaphragm, said valve stem being connected to said diaphragm and passing through openings in the walls forming said intermediate chamber which openings form an extended guide for said stem.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand at San Francisco. California, this 16th day of November, 1920.

LESTER L. CARTER. 

